F1 Australian GP Qualifying Highlights: George Russell Secures Pole, Kimi Antonelli Gets P2
F1 Australian Grand Prix 2026 LIVE QUALIFYING RACE UPDATES: George Russell secures the pole ahead of his teammate Kimi Antonelli. Third place was secured by Isaac Hadjar who is making his debut in Red Bull. Max Verstappen ends his session pre-maturely due to a huge crash in Q1. Check the highlights from the Qualifying race below.
The third practice sessions of the 2026 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park delivered battle between Ferrari and Mercedes ahead of qualifying. Stay tuned for F1 Australian GP live race updates, F1 Live streaming, F1 Live race results, key moments, and real-time coverage from this season-opening Australian GP this weekend here on SundayGuardianLive.
The 2026 Australian Grand Prix weekend began with a chaotic FP1, where several teams faced early technical issues, though Ferrari and Red Bull quickly showed strong pace through Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen. In FP2, home favourite Oscar Piastri thrilled the Melbourne crowd by going fastest with a 1:19.729, ahead of Mercedes duo Kimi Antonelli and George Russell. FP3 started 20 minutes late due to barrier repairs after a Formula 3 crash, and was further disrupted when Carlos Sainz’s Williams failed near pit entry. After a tight battle between Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes, Russell finished fastest, while Antonelli crashed heavily late in the session.
F1 Australian Grand Prix 2026 LIVE Qualifying Updates:
Live Updates
-
12:31 (IST) 07 Mar 2026
Thankyou!
That's all from our end for today. Join us again tomorrow for full coverage of the Australian Grand Prix 2026 with live updates, commentary, analysis, pictures, videos and more.
-
11:57 (IST) 07 Mar 2026
Australian GP Qualifying LIVE Updates: Full Result
-
George Russell (Mercedes) – 1:18.518
-
Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – +0.293
-
Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) – +0.785
-
Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +0.809
-
Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +0.862
-
Lando Norris (McLaren) – +0.957
-
Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – +0.960
-
Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) – +14.454
-
Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) – +14.936
-
Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi)
-
Nico Hulkenberg (Audi) – 1:20.303
-
Oliver Bearman (Haas) – 1:20.311
-
Esteban Ocon (Haas) – 1:20.491
-
Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – 1:20.501
-
Alexander Albon (Williams) – 1:20.941
-
Franco Colapinto (Alpine) – 1:21.270
-
Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
-
Sergio Perez (Cadillac)
-
Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac)
-
Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
-
Carlos Sainz (Williams)
-
Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
-
-
11:50 (IST) 07 Mar 2026
Australian GP Qualifying LIVE Updates: Mercedes 1-2
George Russell secures the pole and what surprises even more is that Kimi Antonelli after so many hurdles manages to get P2. The Red Bull new comer Isaac Hadjar will start his first race in the team on P3 tomorrow.
-
11:46 (IST) 07 Mar 2026
Australian GP Qualifying LIVE Updates: Antonelli's Struggle Continues
Antonelli runs through the gravel after a small mistake, ruining his lap. Russell currently holds provisional pole with a 1:19.084.
-
11:35 (IST) 07 Mar 2026
Australian GP Qualifying LIVE Updates: RED FLAG!!!
Antonelli loses a cooling fan on track during his lap. Norris runs over the debris and asks McLaren to check his car. “Check, I hit a lot of debris; front left," says Norris on the radio.
🔴 RED FLAG 🔴
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 7, 2026
Lando Norris collides with a cooling device on the track, which seemingly fell from Kimi Antonelli's Mercedes
There's debris to be cleared up at Turn 2#F1 #AusGP pic.twitter.com/hrUZ9jGS8Y -
11:29 (IST) 07 Mar 2026
Australian GP Qualifying LIVE Updates: Q3 Start Delayed
Q3 start delayed after Bortoleto’s Audi stops in pit lane. He is out of the qualifying session. Now, we are moving ahead with only 9 cars on the grid.
-
11:22 (IST) 07 Mar 2026
Australian GP Qualifying LIVE Updates: Eliminated In Q2
11. Nico Hulkenberg (Audi)
12. Oliver Bearman (Haas)
13. Esteban Ocon (Haas)
14. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
15. Alex Albon (Williams)
16. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)
-
11:19 (IST) 07 Mar 2026
Australian GP Qualifying LIVE Updates: Hamilton in Safe Zone
After running down, Hamilton records a good lap to move to the seventh on the sheet. Now the drivers in the drop zone are: Bortoleto, Ocon, Gasly, Bearman, Albon, and Colapinto.
-
11:17 (IST) 07 Mar 2026
Australian GP Qualifying LIVE Updates: Mercedes Flying
Mercedes showing what they can do with seven minutes left on the Q2 clock! 👀
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 7, 2026
P1 - Russell ➡️ 1:18.934
P2 - Antonelli ➡️ +0.670#F1 #AusGP pic.twitter.com/ryKkSXKh0F -
11:14 (IST) 07 Mar 2026
Australian GP Qualifying LIVE Updates: Hamilton Down Below
With only 5 minutes more to go in the Q2, the drivers in danger are Gasly, Bearman, Hulkenberg, Colapinto, Albon, and Hamilton.
-
11:11 (IST) 07 Mar 2026
F1 LIVE | Australian GP Qualifying: Russell Leads Again
George Russell is the fastest in Q2 yet again. Clocking 1:18.934 he remains ahead of Piastri, Antonelli and Hadjar.
Earlier in the Q2, Leclerc on soft tyres set the fastest lap in 1:20.088. Then he was replaced by Kimi who clocked 1:19.604 only to get surpassed by his teammate Russell.
-
11:04 (IST) 07 Mar 2026
F1 LIVE | Australian GP Qualifying: Eliminated in Q1
17. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
18. Sergio Perez (Cadillac)
19. Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac)
20. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
21. Carlos Sainz (Williams)
22. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
-
10:57 (IST) 07 Mar 2026
Australian Grand Prix 2026 Qualifying LIVE: Mercedes Garage Worked Well!
"Thankyou guys, you are the best", says Antonelli who was the 6th fastest in Q1.
-
10:50 (IST) 07 Mar 2026
Australian Grand Prix 2026 Qualifying LIVE: Russell Leads
At the last moments of Q1, Russell still leads the timesheet on soft tyres with 1:19.507. He is ahead of Piastri and Hamilton.
-
10:00 (IST) 07 Mar 2026
Australian Grand Prix 2026 Qualifying LIVE: Kimi Antonelli On the Grid
Verstappen's Red Flag gave enough time for Mercedes to prepare Kimi for the drive after a helfty crash in the FP3. Now, he still will get to make several laps that can lead the Italian to Q2. Let's see.
-
09:45 (IST) 07 Mar 2026
Australian Grand Prix 2026 Qualifying LIVE: Max Verstappen EXITS!
He has to end his qualifying pre-maturely. “The car just locked on the rear axles… fantastic,” he says on the radio.
🔴 RED FLAG 🔴
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 7, 2026
Max Verstappen CRASHES into the barrier in Q1! 😱#F1 #AusGP pic.twitter.com/La9VX2XVQu -
09:40 (IST) 07 Mar 2026
Australian Grand Prix 2026 Qualifying LIVE: Max Verstappen CRASHES!
Max Verstappen crashes into the gravel!!!! RED FLAG in Q1 with 7 minutes remaining.
-
09:30 (IST) 07 Mar 2026
Australian Grand Prix 2026 Qualifying LIVE: Welcome!
Hello and welcome to the live blog of the Australian Grand Prix 2026 qualifying race. Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren, Red Bull all the four bigs have impressed in the Free Prastice sessions at the Albert Park. Under the new regulations, now let's see who will take the pole.